Fire extinguishing apparatus



Jan. 4, 1944. F, Q BlsHQP 2,338,313

FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS Filed June 20, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 www@M22/L.)

` 'ATTORNEY Jan. 4,' 1944. F, BlsHo'P FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS FiredJune 2o, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Jan. 4, 1944 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS Application June 20, 1941,Serial No. 398,919

9 Claims.

This invention relates generally to portable re extinguishers of the drypowder chemical type.

It is an object of the invention to generally improve upon apparatus ofthe above character, particularly with respect to controlling thedischarge of powder.

Another object of the invention is to provide an effective portableextinguisher of the dry powder chemical type, which can be readilyoperated by anyone without previous experience, and which can be readilyrecharged.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel valve means foruse in conjunction with such apparatus, including particularly a valvefor controlling the discharge of powder which will not become clogged bypowder and which will automatically relieve excess pressure.

Additional objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription in which the preferred embodiment has been set forth indetail, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevational view showing a device incorporating thepresent invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Figure 1,with certain parts shown in cross section;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional detail taken along the line 3 3of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken along theline 4 4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional detail taken along the line 5 5 of Figure4; and

Figure 6 is a cross sectional detail taken along the line 6 6 of Figure5.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawings consists generally of achamber I0 for containing a charge of dry iire extinguisher powder, acartridge II for containing gas such as carbon dioxide under relativelyhigh pressure, and a lower base or body I2. Chamber I0 can becylindrical shaped as illustrated, with its upper end closed, and withits lower end portion I 0a of reduced diameter and tted within the bodyI2. When in use powder is discharged from the nozzle I3.

The lower side of the body I2 is enclosed by the shell I4, which canconveniently be made of pressed metal. This shell also forms a lower endsurface upon which apparatus can be supported when it is not in use.Attached to one side of the shell I4, there is a structure I6 whichforms a pistol like grip. Structure I6 can be formed of pressed metal orother suitable material, and it is made hollow to house certain parts tobe presently described. A lower extension I6a forms an attachment toshell I4. Portion I6b forms a grip or handle to be engaged by the handof an operator. An upper portion I6c is attached to releasable clampingband I1, which surrounds the chamber I3.

Two valves i8 and I9 are provided. Valve I8 serves to control dischargeof powder through the nozzle I3, and valve I9 serves to control releaseof gas from the cartridge II. As will be presently explained, both ofthese valves are operated by a common manual operating member, which ispreferably in the form of a lever 2l. Cartridge H can be housed within aremovable casing 23, the upper part of which is engaged by thereleasable clamp 23a.

While the design of valve I3 can vary, it is desirable to have a simplevalve mechanism which will not become clogged by the presence of powder,and which will afford a sufliciently tight shut-off to hold some gaspressure in chamber IQ for a short period of time such as, say, for afew minutes, without securing a gas tight seal. Also, it is desirablethat this valve automatically relieve an excessively high pressure inchamber Ill. The valve illustrated in Figures 4 to 6 inclusiveaccomplishes all of these results, and is constructed as follows: A partof the body I2 is shaped to provide the flattened surface 23 upon whichthe plate 24 is mounted. This plate has an opening 2o" in alignment withthe passage of the nozzle i3. Nozzle I3 is in the form of a short tube,loosely extending into an opening 27 of the shell I4. The inner end ofthe nozzle tube terminates short of plate 2t, and has a portion 28 ofreduced diameter. Fitted upon portion 28, there is a follower plate 23which is yieldably urged toward plate 24 by the spring 3 I.

,- Spring 3l is mounted on plate 24 as by means of rivets or screws 32,and it has openings 33 which loosely accommodate the pins 34, mountedupon the follower plate 29.

Between the follower plate 29 and the adjacent face of plate 2li, thereis a valve member 3S in the form of a piece of relatively thin sheetmetal, provided with a port opening 3l. Pivot pin 38 serves to pivotallyattach the valve member 36 to the mounting plate 24, and a depending arm39 is attached to means whereby the valve member 35 can be rockedbetween open and closed positions. Thus, the lower end of arm 3S isprovided with a laterally bent portion 4l, provided with a slot 42. An Llever 43 has its one arm provided with a pin 44, which engages withinslot 42. L lever 43 in turn has a pivotal connection 45 to a bracket 43,which can be an integral lateral extension from the lower end of theplate 24. A spring 471' serves to urge L. lever 43 in a clockwisedirection as Viewed in Figure 6. By pulling link or rod 48 attachedtothe l. lever 43, the valve member 33 can be rocked in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 5, to move the same fromclosed to open position, at which time the port 31 is placed in registrywith the passage of the nozzle tube I3. A shoulder 49 in a slot 59 formsa stop to limit rotation of the valve member 36 in a counterclockwisedirection as viewed in' Figure 5.

The valve i9 for controlling release of gas from cartridge II canlikewise vary as to detail, although a desirable construction isillustrated in Figure 3. Briely, the valve consists of a body 5Idirectly attached to the neck of the cartridge Il. The interior of thisbody .is-provided' 'with a bore 52, to accommodate the valve member 53.The valve member is urged by compression spring 511 against thestationary seat 5S. An operating stem 5l is attached to valve member 53-and extends to the exterior of the body 5I, through the sealing gland5B. A coupling 59 is detachably secured to the body 5I, and serves tomake de tachable connection with the tube GI. A duct l $2 in the body 5Iaccommodates low of gas from the cartridge II to the bore 52, and duct63 permits ilow of gas to the coupling 59 and tube 6I when the valve isopened. The valve body 5I is attached to the side walls of the structureI9 by means of one or more screws or bolts 6:3. To conveniently detachcoupling 59, there is an opening in the adjacent wall of structure i6through which a screw driver or like tool'can be inserted to loosen theattaching screw of the coupling.

As shown in Figure 2, tube 6I extends downa wardly through the structurei6 into the shell l, where it is attached by fitting G6 to the body I2.Duct lil in the body I2 serves to distribute this gas to the tubes 68and 69. Tube 68 extends upwardly to a point near the upper end of thechamber Ill, while tube 59 has a restricted discharge oriiice, which isin alignment with the discharge nozzle I 3. Thus, compressed gasdelivered through tube EI is applied upon top of the charge of powder inchamber I9, and is also discharged as a jet from tube 69, to agitate thepowder and to cause a jet of gas together with entrained powder todischarge through the nozzle I 3, assuming that the valve I8 is in openposition.

With respect to the means for operating the valves IS and i9, lever 2lhas a pivotal connection l! with the extension I 6c. Portion 2id of thislever extends through a slot 72, and is trigger shaped so that it can bereadily engaged by the nger of an operator. Above lever portion Zia thelever is provided with a cam surface 13, which engages the outer end ofthe valve rod 57. Thus, when lever 2i is `moved rearwardly, rod 5l iscammed inwardlyy to movelthevalve member to open position. The lowerendvv of lever ZI is pivotally attached tothe Vrodlli, so that rearwardmovement of the lever effectsv sin'iultaneous operation of the valve I8.

Chambery Ill canbe filled 4through afsuitable opening which is normallyclosed. For example, a stud 'Iii extending'from the lower side of thebody I2 can be provided with a passage accessible through an opening inthe vbottom of shelll I4, and normally closed'by a threaded plug.

Operation of the apparatus described above can be reviewed as follows: Acharge ofA suitable iire extinguisher powder is introduced into thechamber lll, and the cartridge II is suitably charged with a gas underpressure, suchas carbon dioxide. Various fire extinguisher powders arewell known to those skilled inthe art.`rv Usually such powder containsvsodium bicarbonate, together with other ingredients which'render thepowder free flowing under all atmospheric condi`l to 'lever portion 2idto force the lever 2l to the to'release gas" from the cartridge II.

right, as viewed in Figure 2, and this serves rst to iopen valve I8, andthen to open the valve I9 The released gas'jets with considerable forcefrom tube lil), and is also applied on top of the charge of `valve i8kcloses.

powder through tube 65. As the gas jets through the discharge nozzle I3,it carries a cloud of powlder andpropels this powder forwardly upon" theiire.vr When 'pressure is released upon the lever portion 2id to permitthe lever to return to the position shown in Figure 2, valve I9 is rstclosed to interrupt further release of gas, and thereafter Valve' i8doe'not pro-videafgas tight shutoff, although it will retain some gas fpressure in 'chamber II) `for a short period of time, such as a few'minutes.

. The apparatus described `above has many desirable features. Because ofthe 'manner in which both the discharge of powder and gas can becontrolled' at the will of the operator, the apparatus has'maximum irefiighting vutility for a 'givensize' of equipment. Chamber IIJ can bemade of light inexpensive metal, because it is not required to withstandrelatively high-pressures, comparable to 'the pressures maintained inthe small cartridge Il. Operatorslrequire no previv voustraining foroperation of the equipment,be

cause the proper manner of holding theapparatus and operating the leveryportion 2Ia is obvious.

Valve IB of such a character that it will not become clogged bythepresence of extinguisher powder. The' at valve member 36 is yieldablypressed between the'mounting plate 2d, and the follower plate 29. Shouldany powder nd its way between these parts, it will not jam or interferewith movement ofA the-valve member 36,

- and such powder readily works its way out of the valve.

Should there be a breakage'suc'h as w'ould occasion building up of anunduly high pressure in chamber I9, the pressure upon the closed plate36 will force this plate away from contact withthe face ofplate 24,"withthe result `that the gas will then be discharged into' shell Isl, 'andfrom thence dissipated tothe atmosphere.

*When it is desired to lrecharge the apparatus,

This enables' -one to Vbodily remove'the cartridge together'with'theentirevalve unit I9'. After the cartridge hasbeen recharged with gas, itis re-applied to the appav ratus as shown in-Figure l. At the time it isreapplied', the operatingpinfv 5'? automatically reassumes operating`Vposition "with respect to the Ilclaim: l. In reiextinguishingapparatus of the' dry powder chemical type, a chamber for'receiving aVcharge of re 'extinguisherfpowden a cartridge forcontaininga charge of"gas under pressure, a c'uschargey nozzle for powder communicating with`the chamber, avalve serving to open andclose said vdischarge nozzle,` aduct aligned' withv said nozzle and serving to deliver gas'from thecartridge to the chamber, whereby all of said powder is "dischargedthroughY the nozzle with a 'je't of .facesseroy gas, a second valve forcontrolling release of gas from the cartridge, and a common manualoperating member for operation of both said valves.

2. In fire extinguishing apparatus oi the dry fpowder chemical type, achamber for receiving a charge of powdered chemical, a cartridge forreceiving a charge of gas under relatively high pressure, a dischargenozzle for powder communieating with the chamber, a duct aligned withsaid nozzle and serving to deliver gas from the cartridge to thechamber, whereby all of said powder can be discharged through the nozzlewith a jet oi gas, a valve adapted to be opened and closed forcontrolling release of gas from the nozzle, a valve adapted to be openedand closed for controlling release of gas from the cartridge, a singleoperating member movable between released and actuated positions, and amotion transmitting mechanism serving to operatively connect both saidvalves to said member, said mechanism serving to effect opening of thevalve for controlling release of gas, when said member is moved betweenreleased and actuated positions.

3. In fire extinguishing apparatus of the dry powder chemical type, achamber for receiving a charge of re extinguisher powder, a cartridgefor containing a charge of gas under pressure, a discharge nozzlecommunicating with the chamber, a duct aligned with said nozzle andserving to deliver gas from said cartridge to said chamber wherebyy allof said powder can be discharged through said nozzle with a jet of gas,and means associated with said nozzle to erect opening and closing ofthe same, and automatically to effect release of an unduly high pressurewithin the chamber.

4. In nre extinguisher apparatus of the dry powder chemical type, achamber for receiving a charge of fire extinguisher powder, a cartridgefor containing a charge of gas under pressure, a discharge nozzlecommunicating with the chamber, a duct aligned with said nozzle andserving to deliver gas from the cartridge to the chamber whereby all ofsaid powder can be discharged through the nozzle with a jet of gas, avalve for controlling release of gas from the cartridge, valve means forcontrolling opening and closing of the nozzle and for automaticallyreleasing excessively high gas pressure from the chamber, and meansincluding a common manual operating member for effecting operation ofboth said valves.

5. In fire extinguisher apparatus of the dry powder chemical type, achamber for receiving a charge of fire extinguisher powder, a body uponwhich one open end of the chamber is mounted, a structure forming apistol-like grip mounted upon the body and extending adjacent one end ofthe chamber, a discharge nozzle carried by the body and communicatingwith the chamber, valve means carried by the body and serving to controlthe discharge nozzle, a cartridge for containing gas under pressureattached to one end of the grip structure, a valve for controllingrelease of gas from the cartridge, a duct extending from said valvethrough the pistol grip and to the body for communication with saidchamber, and actuating means for both said valves including a commonoperating member associated with said pistol grip.

6. In iire extinguisher apparatus, a body formed to provide a dischargenozzle, a chamber having its lower open end mounted upon the body withthe interior of the chamber in communication with the discharge nozzle,a structure in the form of a pistol grip secured to the body andextending upwardly alongside the lower end portion of the chamber, acartridge for gas under pressure extending upwardly from the upper endof the pistol grip structure, a valve attached to the lower end of thecartridge, actuating means for the valve carried by the pistol gripstructure, said valve being removable from the pistol grip together withthe cartridge as a unit, and a detachable pipe connection from the valveto the chamber, whereby gas released from the cartridge and dischargedinto the chamber causes powder to be` discharged from the nozzletogether with a jet of gas.

7. In re extinguishing apparatus of the dry powder chemical type, achamber for receiving a charge of re extinguisher powder, a cartridgefor containing a charge of gas under pressure, a discharge nozzle forpowder communicating with the chamber, a valve serving to open and closethe discharge nozzle, abranched duct serving to deliver gas from thecartridge to the chamber, one branch of said duct terminating in anaspirating nozzle aligned with said first discharge nozzle and anotherbranch of said duct terminating at the end of said chamber remote fromthe discharge nozzle thereof, whereby powder is discharged through thenozzle with a jet of gas and under gas pressure, a second valve forcontrolling release of gas from the cartridge, and a common manualoperating member for operation of both of said valves.

8. In iire extinguishing apparatus of the dry powder chemical type, anupright chamber for receiving a charge of iire extinguisher powder, acartridge for containing a charge of gas under pressure, a dischargenozzle for powder communicating with the lower end of said chamber, avalve serving to open and close said discharge nozzle, a branched ductserving to deliver gas from the cartridge to the chamber, said ducthaving one branch discharging adjacent said nozzle in alignmenttherewith, and having another branch extending upwardly through saidchamber and terminating adjacent the upper end thereof, whereby powderis discharged throughV the nozzle with a jet of gas under gas pressure..a second valve for controlling release of gas from the cartridge, and acommon manual operating member for operation of both of said valves.

9. In nre extinguishing apparatus of the dry powder chemical type, achamber for receiving a charge of fire extinguisher powder, a cartridgefor containing a charge oi gas under pressure, a discharge nozzlecommunicating with the chamber, a duct serving to deliver gas from saidcartridge to said chamber whereby powder can be discharged through saidnozzle with a jet of gas, a valve controlling opening and closing ofsaid nozzle, said valve comprising a valve member mounted for movementlaterally across said nozzle, said member normally closing said nozzleand having an aperture movable into alignment with said nozzle, andmeans yieldably urging said valve member to close said nozzle opening,said valve member being yiel-dable without movement to operativeposition to release unduly high pressure within the chamber.

FRANK C. BISHOP.

